The Viper/Apex Preditor or The Legend Killer?

[maty619]

Of Randy Orton's gimmicks which do you prefer? The calculated, sly Viper or the cocky, arragant Lengend Killer?

They both have their qualities. The Lengend Killer was a great begining to a career and established Randy as a heel, attacking the WWE Universe's most beloved people, the lengends. It also gave Randy Orton credibility after leaving Evolution as he was beating up people who used to be better than him and are still billed as good as they once were.

Whereas his Viper gimmick is just great, I can't really think why it is good but it just is. I can't think why it is good for Randy but it gives us utter gold, I love watching Randy play this character.

I would say that I prefer the Viper gimmick as it (as we have already seen) is an incredibly diverse character because we have seen a heel and face run from this character but the Lengend Killer character could not possibly get a face run (I do realise that Randy was turned face by the fans but you could tell he is face even without any sound from the crowd you could tell he is face so to me the the Viper character works as face and heel).

 

[The Showstopper]

Yeah, the Legend Killer gimmick got him known more, like his feuds with 'taker. The Viper gimmick is also good but he doesnt talk as much, but yeah it works as face.

 

[He who knows more than Nation]

Legend Killer.

Randy vs. TNA, book it!

 

[maty619]

Lol, I thought about that this morning when I was reminising about ECW one night stand.

 

[Kaptain KnicKy]

Yeh you summed it up pretty well. The Legend Killer gimmick really helped him get started in the E. I think it's run it's course, and now with the Viper/Apex Predator gimmick taking over, I think it's better.

I don't think though, you could've had Randy go straight into the Viper/Predator gimmick. Even as a 3rd gen star, you couldn't have made him into what he is today without an opening gimmick. The Legend Killer idea really set him up nicely for it, imo.

If he were to revert back to the Legend Killer gimmick I think the E would be making a BIG mistake. Plus, there really isnt too much more for him to take on/out, legend wise. Is there?

 

[xtremebadass]

I loved the Legend Killer. I love how they still bring it up. Knowing WWE these days you wouldn't think they would mention his Legend Killer persona, but they do reference it from time to time.

I think Orton is evolving into a hybrid between both gimmicks as he is slowly turning face. He does the Legend Killer pose which he hasn't done since 2007.

I got used to WWE calling him the Viper though, at first I hated it. The Apex Predator is still a stupid nickname just like the 21st Century Superstar w/e the hell Striker says these days.

 

[hndsmepete]

The Viper gimmick suits him more. Especially if they promote the RKO similar to the way the Diamondcutter was promoted with DDP. The Diamondcutter was always promoted as being able to be applied anytime, anywhere, to anyone. That should go hand in hand with the Viper gimmick as being ready to strike at anytime. The announcers should also sell the RKO as being incredibly devastating, I don't think they've done a good job of that recently.

 

[chessarmy]

Definitely the viper gimmick, it got him much farther than the Legend Killer shtick. Not only that, but he seems to be more over than ever before, it clearly connects with the fans better than the Legend Killer gimmick and I can see why. Orton just comes off as pure badass, someone you don't ever want to fuck with, and with so many in the wrestling business trying to pull that off, for Orton to do it and make it work so well is very impressive

 

[...god...]

Legend Killer, but the point now is both are combining, like they should, to ultimately create his actual persona and character and not just a walking gimmick which he's always been. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Randy Orton has yet to hit his prime and he could certainly become bigger than Cena.

HOWEVER. I only started taking him as a SERIOUS main eventer when he changed his character into the "Viper" or whatever the fuck you want to call it. He did a good job to transform himself, knew it was needed, and that's only when I started seeing him in a bigger light, as an actual main-stay upper tier guy.

Also, you spelled predator wrong..

 

[Kaptain KnicKy]

I got used to WWE calling him the Viper though, at first I hated it. The Apex Predator is still a stupid nickname just like the 21st Century Superstar w/e the hell Striker says these days.

I LOVE the Apex Predator gimmick/name he's given. It's similar to The Ultimate Oppurtunist for Edge. Just gives him a real edginess to him. Don't know what he's going to do, when, to who.

As for the 21st Century Superstar, never heard Stryker say it, don't really like that one though.

 

[noumenon]

As Great One said, I don't think either was a complete persona by themselves. However, they're finally starting to merge the two perfectly. When Orton completely and totally dropped all mannerisms of the Legend Killer persona I think a lot of people became pretty let down with the character. The Viper also seemed like a bit of an odd gimmick to be heading up Legacy.
I love the sadistic shit he does as the Viper/Apex Predator (which is BTW the best thing Michael Cole has ever come up with), but his persona as the Legend Killer was complete gold. Continue to merge the two we'll be good to go. Orton still has a long way to evolve and I think we've just begun to see where this is going to take him.

 

[maty619]

I think he might get some pyro back in his entrance, I'd love to see the fireworks (or whatever it is) dropping onto him whilst he does that pose, that is so cool.

 

[noumenon]

Well, he seems to do the cocky pose post match now. The pyro was really only for when he did it on the entrance ramp. He's kept the simple entrance of just walking out and looking around.

 

[Lady Redfield]

Fuck this, I had a post all typed up and the forum fucked up with some database error and my shit was gone.

To sum it up: Legend Killer was awesome for a starting gimmick but beating up old people? Wow man, anyone can fucking do that.

I like the Viper gimmick, it shows just how fucked up in the head Orton is and how much he loves to destroy you. It's satisfying to him.

 

[straight_edge76]

I agree with the people who said his current character is a combonation of The Viper and Legend Killer. I honestly love the Apex Predator nickname, one of the only good things Cole has ever said lol. His Legend Killer gimmick is what got him over initally, I never thought of him as the number two guy in the company until he adopted his current, Viper character. The Viper I prefer in every way except I always loved the name "Legend Killer" no clue why lol.